The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-04-29
A FATAL FALL

John Miller, living at the corner o.
Vine and Fourth streets, met with ter
rible death last Thursday night by fallins
over the ledge of the stone quarry on Ma
disonAve, where the same intersects will
Second street, not far from the Franklin
school building. He had gone over te
the house of Chas. Hide, OH Second
street, to see him regarding the sale Of
some property. Mr.. Hidde was not al
home. and waiting for him till about
o'clock, and Mr.. Hide not returning
he started for home. Crossing the
street, he had gone about one block,
and had left the main travelled road
about twenty feet (the night being IN
tensely dark when he fell over the
ledge of the quarry, falling distance oi
| twelve feet and striking on the stones
below. His right wrist was broken and
| the skull crushed in q horrible manner.
| He was not discovered until about
o'clock this morning, when Mr.. Cough
Ian, of the firm of Maxfield 4 Coughlan,
who operate the quarry, discovered the
body, and at once notified the coroner
and chief of police. The body was re-
moved to the city hall and an inquest
held. The coroner empanneled the fol-
lowing jury: J. F. Meagher, Geo. I.
| Barr, James Shoemaker, John LulsdOrf,
$. +. Barney and +. Fowler.
Thos. Coughlan being sworn, stated as
to the finding of the body. face down.
ward.
Geo. Maxfield, Jr., testified to calling
the coroner and chief of police. Also in
regard to the quarrying of stone out of
Second street and Madison avenue, and
street, with head toward the north, and
also as to the condition of the ground
on top of ledge.
Frank Hidde, being sworn, said that
deceased came to his house about 1880
p. IN. Ii was his impression that he had
been drinking. He remained until
about . o'clock; thought the effects of
the liquor had worn off before he left the
house. Saw him start in the direction
of the stone quarry, but the night was 50
dark he could not see more than 10 to
Is feet before him. His home was about
one block from where Miller met his
death.
DR.. Jacoby testified us to the nature of
the wounds. One cut in the head an inch
long, cut through to the skull, right
wrist fractured, upper cheek bone on
left side of the face broken, and the body
terribly bruised. The injuries, in his
opinion, were sufficient to cause death,
taking into consideration the fall and the
manner in which he fell against the
stone.
Chief Welch testified as to the distance
of the ledge from the main travelled
road to he about 20 feet, and the body
when discovered to be feet from the
wall of the ledge. He also testified that
the quarrying of stone had extended
into Second street about ~ feet.
Oscar Miller testified that deceased was
his father; he saw him before he went
out last evening. His father had been
drinking some; did not think he was in
toxicated last night. Had remarked
when he left that he would be home in
about two hours; would not tell his fam
lily alone where he was going or the ma
ture of his business. His father had had
some words with his mother, but moth
ing of an unusual character. Had been
drinking considerable of late; last time
in witnesses recollection was three or
four days ago. Was seen by Il neighbor
going in direction of Hidde's house.
Chas. Hidde testified that he was not
ut home when Miller called. Had been
Will Hlul ycStciuhy dIlu urduh kldSS
of beer with him. Miller had spoken
about coming over in the evening but
witness did not consider it an engage.
ment.
Frank Hldde, recalled, said that Mil
Ter came to the house about 1880 p. IN.
and inquired for Chas. HIdde, his father.
He came IN and talked to his mother.
Wanted his father to 90 into the saloon
business with him. Mother objected.
Wanted to trade some lots he owned for
my fathers property on Front street.
Talked very fast and spoke in German.
Did not say anything about his family,
except that his wife was sickly.
THE JURY FINDING. |
The jury found that John III. Miller
came to his death by falling from the
top of ledge of stone, at or near the
junction of Second street and Madison
avenue, to ledge of stone below, being
by reason of the unusual
darkness of the night.
The deceased was SO years of age,
and leaves wife and three grown up
two sons and daughter. He
was man of considerable means. and
I,,l l;ynl hama ahn,f IR uaarc